
PRO PATRIA 









PRO PATRIA 



BY 

FLORENCE EARLE COATES 



PHILADELPHIA 
1917 



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BETTER TO DIE 

Better to die, where gallant men are dying, 
Than to live on with them that basely fly : 
Better to fall, the soulless Fates defying, 
Than unassailed to wander vainly, trying 
To turn one's face from an accusing sky! 

Days matter not, nor years to the undaunted; 

To live is nothing, — but to nobly live! 
The poorest visions of the honor-haunted 
Are better worth than pleasure-masks enchanted, 

And they win life who life for others give. 

The planets in their watchful course behold them — 
To live is nothing, — but to nobly live! — 

For though the Earth with mother-hands remold 
them, 

Though Ocean in his billowy arms enfold them, 
They are as gods, who life to others give! 



AMERICA 

Patient she is — long-suffering, our Land; 

Wise with the strength of one whose soul in calm 
Weighs and considers, and would understand 

Ere it gives way to anger: fearing wrong 
Of her own doing more than any planned 

Against her peace by others deemed more strong. 

Mother of many children alien born, 

Whom she has gathered into her kind arms, — 

Safe-guarding most the weakest, most forlorn, — 
The mother's patience she has learned to know, 

Which passes trifles by with smiling scorn — 
The mother's hopefulness, to anger slow. 

Yet, oh, beware! nor, over-bold, presume 
Upon a gentleness enlinked with Power! 

Her torch still burns, to kindle or consume, 

And 'gainst the time when she must prove her might, 

Vast energy is stored in her soul's room — 
Undreamed of strength to battle for the Right ! 



THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO THE ALLIES 

If they tell you that we hold 

Right and wrong are much the same : 
That with equal share of blame 

The defender of the fold 

And the ravening wolf we name — 
Don't believe it! 

If they tell you that we think, 
When the robber comes by night 
And we see 'neath murderous Might 

Innocence unfriended sink, 

We should be "too proud to fight" — 
Don't believe it! 

If they tell you we are cold 
When strong men, and maids as brave, 
May not life from bondage save — 

We who gave unstinted gold, 

And our heart's blood, for the slave ! — 
Don't believe it! 

If — O gallant souls and true! — 
If they tell you we judge well 
Ways of Heaven and ways of Hell : 

That the honor dear to you 
Also in our souls doth dwell — 
Oh, believe it! 

If they tell you our heart's cry: 
That, whate'er the danger near, 
One, one only loss we fear; 

And are ready, too, to — die 

For the things that you hold dear — 
Oh, believe it! 



UNDER THE FLAG 

February 5, 1917 

Under our own flag, still we will sail her — 
Gallantly sail her, our own Ship of State ; 

Faiths we have lived by still shall avail her, 
Hope at her prow, wing'd, expectant, elate! 

Over the deeps of a perilous ocean, 

Honor compelling, we still will sail on; 

Giving, unfearing, a loyal devotion, 
Until, in life — in death, danger is gone. 

Deem not that we, whom our fathers before us 
Taught to love freedom and died to make free, 

Coward shall fly, while the Heavens are o'er us, 
Craft of the ether or boats under sea. 

There is in valor that hearkens to duty — 

Something that dearer may be than long years ; 

And in man's service may be a beauty 
Higher than glory, and deeper than tears. 



In unhesitating obedience to what I deem my 
constitutional duty, I advise that the Congress 
declare the recent course of the Imperial German 
Government to be in fact nothing less than war 
against the Government and people of the United 
States; that it formally accept the status of 
belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it 
and that it take immediately steps to exert all 
its power and employ all its resources to bring 
the Government of the German Empire to terms 
and end the war. 



To such a task we can dedicate our lives and 
our fortunes, everything that we are and every- 
thing that we have, with the pride of those who 
know that the day has come when America is 
privileged to spend her blood and her might for 
the principles that gave her birth and happiness 
and the peace which she has treasured. God 
helping her, she can do no other. — Address of 
President Wilson to the Congress of the United 
States, April 2, 1917. 



AMERICA SPEAKS 

"For what avail or plough, or sail, 
Or land, or life, if freedom fail?" 

We have been sleeping — dreaming. Now, 

Thank God! we are awake! 
Awake, and ready with a will 

The nobler part to take! 
No more shall a pretended Peace 

Our souls from duty sever ; 
We dedicate our lives to God 

And Liberty — forever! 

We, who have looked with anguished eyes 

On things no eye should see, 
Beholding all that may be wrought 

By ruthless Tyranny, 
Join hands with you, devoted Lands, 

A liberated Nation 
That wills to share your sacrifice, 

That knows your exaltation! 

A lofty voice has spoken words 

That bring the world relief; 
Our Land has joined the league of Right, 

Led onward by her Chief — 
Her Chief who large has writ his name 

With Lincoln's in the story 
Of that dear land which still may call 

The flag she loves, "Old Glory I" 



THE UNION OF THE FLAGS 

May 9, 1917 

We have hung out the flags that we love best — 
The British, the French and our own; 

Adoring we see them together, 
That never together were flown! 

And we feel in the bond is a blessing 
For every grief to atone. 

O flag of my own Land, give welcome ! 

Be proud to embrace, fold with fold, 
These emblems of service heroic 

Whose measure can never be told : 
These banners that speak to the future 

Of honor that shall not grow old ! 

Across them is Sacrifice written; 

They voice peoples generous, brave, 
Who, suffering all men can suffer 

This side of eternity, gave 
Their best with unflinching devotion, 

The wronged and the helpless to save. 

They poured out their hearts' blood for freedom; 

They stood in the terrible way, 
And bore the full brunt of the onslaught 

That darkened the sun at noonday. 
We gaze with dimmed eyes on their Colors, 

Our souls strong for duty as they ! 

We will stand with high hearts by our Allies, 

With fear of no evil but shame ; 
We will face coward Death and outface him, 

In Liberty's eloquent name; 
For we're of the brood of the Lion 

That Tyranny never could tame ! 



LIVE THY LIFE 

Live thy life gallantly and undismayed : 
Whatever harms may hide within the shade, 
Be thou of fear, my spirit! more afraid. 

In earthly pathways evil springeth rife; 

But dread not thou, too much, or pain or strife 

That plunge thee to the greater depths of life ! 

What though the storm-cloud holds the bolt that 

sears? 
The eagle of the crag, that nothing fears, 
Still, still is young after a hundred years ! 



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